Decoy unit



R. D. READ Oct. 4, 1932.

DECOY UNIT Fil ed Sept. '7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS R. D. READ DECOY UNIT Oct. 4, 1932.

d 5 2 mm m a M m; 4

Filed Sept. '7, 1926 R. D. READ DECOY UNIT Oct. 4, 1932.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 7, 1926 Euperfl. Read AT T 019M535 06L 4-, 1932. 13. READ 1,881,328

' DECOY UNIT Filed Sept. 7, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTOEZVQ'S Patented Oct. 4, 1932 stares Runner 1}. READ, or KENMORE, OHIO, 'r-issroivon 'ro HARRY B. sra'vnn, or CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS DECOY UNIT Application filed. September 7, 1926. Serial No. 133,840.

My invention relates to a decoy unit particulaiuy designed for use in greyhound racing, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved unit of this type. In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part of this application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the embodiment of my invention herein shown,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1, while 1 Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing the parts in retracted position.

. The embodiment of my invention herein shown contemplates a track 11 extending about the race course, comprising a backing strip 12 and a rail strip 13 secured together at short intervals and arranged with-their joints staggered to render the track 11 continnous throughout, and supported upon 2 posts 14 themselves supported in any suitable manner, as by being driven into the 3 inner edge of the top 16to the posts 14,

and straps 19 securing the outer edge of the top 16 to the posts 14 at points above the elevation of the top 16.

Riding upon the rail strip 13 is a car 20 which comprises a body plate 21 mounted 43 upon the rail strip 13 by means of four wheels 22 disposed two engaging the upper edge 23 of the rail strip 13, and two engaging the lower edge 24 of the rail strip 13,

and each rotatable upon a stud 25 projecting from the rear face of the body plate 21,

carries at either end a motor unit 26, and carries centrally between the two motor units 26 a decoy unit 27.

Each of the motor units 26 comprises an electric motor 28 which is pivoted to the 3-- body plate 21 at the upper edge thereof by means of a pivot pin 29 extending through posts 30 projecting upwardly from the frame of the .motor 28, and through lugs 31 proeeting forwardly from theyupper edge of the body plate 21, and carries on its armature shaft32 a driving disc 33'arranged to project through an elongated aperture 34 in the body plate 21 into engagement with the forward face 35 of the rail strip 13, and a pair'of biasing units 36 for biasing the motor 28 toward the body plate 21, and the driving disc 33 against the front face 35 of the-rail strip 13, disposed one on either side of theframe of the 1notor28, and each comprising a spring 37 compressed between a lug 38 extending laterally from the frame of the motor 28 and the head 39 of a bolt 40 screw-threaded into an aperture 41 in the body plate 21. I

The decoy unit 27 comprises a decoy 42 supported on the body plate 21 by means of a collapsible tube 43 consisting of a plurality of sections 44 each square in cross-section,

and each hollow to receive the section next further removed from the body plate 21, with the outer end 45 of the outer section 44 carrying the decoy 42 directly mounted thereon, and with the inner end 46 of the inner section 44 rigidly secured directly to the body plate 21, and alsoto a horizontal lip 48 projecting forward'from the bottom edge of the body plate 21.

The decoy unit 27 also'comprises means for telescoping the collapsible tube '43 comprising a drum 49 provided with a cable groove 50 and rotatably mounted upon a shaft 51 sup ported in lugs 52 projecting outwardly from the front face of the body plate 21, a pulley 53 rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 supported in lugs 55 extending outwardly from the front face of the body plate 21, a cable 56 extending from the cable groove 50 of the drum 59 over the pulley 53 through the col- .lapsibl'e tube 43 to, the outer end 45 of the outer section 44, a shaft 57 rotatably mounted in a yoke 58 also pivoted on the shaft 51 carrying the drum 49, and provided at its inner end with a bevel gear 59 arranged to engage a bevel gear 60 carried on one lateral face of the drum 49, a disc 61 arranged to engage the front face 35 of the rail strip 13 through an aperture 62 in the body plate 21, and rotatably mounted upon the shaft 57 held by means of a spring 63 in frictional engagement with a friction disc 64 keyed to the shaft 57, and a solenoid 65 supported on the front face of the body plate 21 above the disc 61 and provided with an armature 66 connected to the yoke 58 by means of an arm 67 and 7 effective, when the solenoid 65 is energized, to swing the disc 61 into engagement with the front face 35 of the rail strip 13 against the resistance of a pair of compression springs 68 located one on each side of the shaft 57, and each disposed about a stud 69 screw-threaded into an aperture 70 in the body plate 21, each interposed between the front face of the body plate 21 and the rear face of the yoke 58, and each acting to continually bias the disc 61 away from the front face 35 of the rail strip 13 to the full extent permitted by a nut 71 carried by the stud 69 outwardly of the yoke 58 and effective to act as astop limiting the biasing action of the spring 68.

From the above description it will be obvious that because of the engagement of the discs 33 with the front face 35 of the rail strip 13 operation of the electric motors 28 will serve to drive the car 20 along the track 11, and that upon actuation of the solenoid 65 to swing the disc 61 into engagement with the front face 35 of the rail strip 13 further movement of the car 20 will cause rotation of the disc 61 which will act through the shaft 57, and through the gears 59 and 60, to 1'0- tate the drum 49 and draw in the cable 56 to thus collapse the collapsible tube 43 and bring the decoy 42 under the lower edge of the skirt 17 of the housing 15 inaccessible by the dogs which have been following the decoy.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the solenoid 65 will ordinarily be deenergized just as soon as the decoy 42 has been drawn within the space enclosed by the housing 15, but at the same time those skilled in the art will realize from the above description that no harm would ensue were the deenergization of the solenoid 65 delayed, since the disc 61 is connected to the shaft 57 only through its frictional'engagement with the friction disc 64, and accordingly is able to be rotated independently of the shaft 57 upon engagement of the disc 61 with the front face 35 of the rail strip 13 after the decoy 42 and the collapsible tube 43 have been completely retracted.

Those skilled in the art will realize that the skirt 17 will be spaced from the ground a distance sufficient to permit the decoy 42 to be drawn under the lower edge of the skirt 17 into the space within the housing 15, but in order to avoid any possible injury I prefer to form the decoy 42 as a thin rubber casing held extended by light air pressure therewithin.

I may say also that I prefer to form the decoy 42 as a representation a of a rabbit.

Those skilled in the art willunderstand that I may energize the motors 28 and solenoid 65 in any desired manner, and form the discs 33 and 61 of any desired construction.

form the discs 33 and, 61 of the construction herein shown, wherein each of these discs comprises a mainplate 72 and a supplementary annular plate 73 arranged to be secured to the main plate 72 in any suitable manner, as by bolts 47, that the main plate 72 and supplemental plate 73 provide together a recess 74 for the reception of an annular rubber friction member 75 arranged to be securely clamped to the main disc 72 by means of the annular disc 73, and to project beyond. the main disc 72 and annular disc 73 to frictionally engage the front face 35 of the rail strip 13.

And I prefer to energize the motors 28 and solenoid 65 by means of a top conductor strip or third rail 76 secured to the upper face 7 7 of the backing strip 12, a bottom conductor strip 78 secured to the lower face 79 of the backing strip 12, a side conductor strip 80 secured'to the forward face 35 of the rail strip 13, and by means of a first brush 81 engaging the top conductor strip 76 and mounted upon a strut 82 projecting from the rear face of the body plate 21 above the rail strip 13, and connected by means of a conductor 83 to one pole of each of the motors 28, and to one pole of the solenoid 65, and by means of a second brush 84 engaging the bottom conductor strip 78 and mounted upon a strut 85 extending from the rear face of the body plate 21 below the rail strip 13, and connected by means of a conductor 86 to the other terminal of each of the motors 28, and by means of third brush 87 mounted on an insulating block 1 88 carried by the forward face of the body plate 21, projecting through an aperture 89 in the body plate 21 into engagement with the slde conductor strip 80, and connected by means of a conductor 90 to the other terminal and that energization of the top conductor strip 76 and side conductor strip 80 will. energize the solenoid 65, and it will of course be obvious to those skilled in the art that the energizationof these conductor strips maybe As a matter of fact, however, I prefer to n From the above description it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of my invent on herein shown and described provides a new and improved decoy unit particularly suitable for greyhound racing, and accordingly accomplishes at least the principal object of my invent on. At the same time it will also be obvious to those 'l 'lled in the art that the particular cml:=odiment of my invention herei shown and described embodies advantages other than those particularly and specifically pointed out and emnncrated. It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that I may mount the tracl; 11 horizontally insteao of vertically, that I may employ any number of motors, either less or more than the two herein shown, and that I may connect these motors to drive through the supporting Wheels 22 instead of through the disc 33, that with that construe tion I may drive the car through all four of the supporting wheels 22, and that the arm supporting the decoy 42 may be formed solid and be projected to the rear of the body plate 21 as the decoy 4-2 is drawn inward into the space under the housing 15, the track construction being modified to afford space for the arm rearwardly of the body plate 21, in fact. that the entire embodiment of my invention herein shown and described may be variously changed and modified all without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof. Under these conditions it will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racmg, comprising: a track; a car mounted to travel along said track, and provided with wheels engaging opposite sides of said track and rotating in the plane of said track; motor means mounted on said car for operating said car along said track; and a decoy carried by said car, normally extended therefrom but retractable by electromagnetic means. 4

2. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racmg, comprising: a track; a car mounted to travel along said track, and provided with wheels rotating in the plane of said track and embracing said track; motor means mounted on said car for operating said car along said track; and a decoy carried by said car, normally extended therefrom but retractable by electromagnetic means.

3. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprlsing: a vertical track; a

car mounted to travel along said track, and provided with wheels engaging opposite sides of said track and rotating in the plane of said track; motor means mounted on said car for operating said car along said track; and a decoy carried by said car, normally extended therefrom but retractable by electromagnetic means. 7 7

4:. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising: a single Vertical track; a car mounted to travel along said track, and provided with Wheels engaging opposite edges of said track and rotating in the plane of said track;'motor means mounted on said car for operating said car along said track; and a decoy carried by said car, normally extended therefrom but retractable by electromagnetic means.

5. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising: a track; a car mounted to travel along said track; motor means mounted on said car for propelling said car along said track; a decoy carried by said car normally extended therefrom but retractible; and means for retracting said decoy operable irrespective of the position of said car on said track.

6. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising: a track; a car mounted to travel along said track; motor means mounted on said car for propelling said car along said track; a decoy carried by said car normally extended therefrom but retractible; means for retracting said decoy irrespective of the position of said car on said track; and stationary means for controlling said motor means and said retracting means.

7. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising: atrack; a car mounted to travel along said track; motor means mounted on said car for propelling said car along said track; a decoy carried by said car normally extended therefrom but retractible; and stationary means for controlling both said motor means and said decoy.

8. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising: a track; a car mounted to travel along said track; motor means mounted on said car for propelling said car along said track; a decoy carried by said car normally extended therefrom but retractible; and electromagnetic means mounted on said car and operable from a stationary point for controlling the retraction of said decoy.

9. A decoy unit, particularly for grey hound racing, comprlsmg: a track;

a car mountedto travel along said track; motor. means 'mounted on said car for propelling said car along said track;a decoy carried by said car normally extended therefrom but retractible; and electromagnetic means controlling the retraction of said decoy and controlled by stationary means distant from said car. 7 i

10. In a device of the" character described for use in greyhoundracing, a track having vertically spaced wl1eclengaging' surfaces disposedin a substantially vertical plane, a car on said trackhaving wheels engaging with said surfaces and rotating in the plane thereof, means for preventingthe wheels from moving out of the plane of said wheel-engaging surfaces, a protective housing in which said track and car are contained, motor means mounted on said car for propelling the same along the track within said housing, a long arm extending laterally from said car free of the ground substantially at right angles to the plane 10f said wheel-engaging surfaces,

and a decoy carried by the arm a substantial distance from the side of said housing.

11. Ina deviceof the character described for use in greyhound'racing, a track having two vrigidly associated vertically spaced wheel-engaging surfaces disposed in a substantially vertical plane, a car on said track having wheels engaging with said surfaces and rotating in the plane thereof, means for preventmg the wheels from'moving out of the plane of said wheel-engaging surfaces, a protcctive housing in which said track and. car

are contained and to which said track is secar on said track-having wheels engaging with said surfaces and rotatingin the plane thereof, means for preventing the wheels from. moving out of the plane of said wheelengaging surfaces, motor means mounted on said car for propelling the same along the track, a long arm extending laterally from said car free of the ground substantially at right angles of the-plane of said wheel-engaging surfaces, and a decoy carried by the arm a substantial distance from the side of said car.

13-. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising a track, a car mounted to travel along said track, motor ,means, mounted. on' said car for propelling the same along said track, a decoy carried by said car normallylextended therefrom but retractable, and electromagnetic means mounted on said car and operable from a stationary point for controlling the retraction of said decoy, said last mentioned means including a rotatable member, a connection between said member and the decoy for retracting the latter upon rotation of the member, and a solenoid operable when energized to move said member into engagement with the track whereby to cause rotation of the member and retraction of the decoy. a

14. A decoy unit, particularly for greyhound racing, comprising a track, a car mounted to travel along said track at a high rate of speed, a frame pivotally attached to the car, an electric motor supported on the frame, a traction wheel also supported on the frame and connected with the motor, spring means for moving the frame relative to the car to press the traction wheel firmly against the track, a long arm projecting from the car independently of said frame, and a lure mounted on the free end of the arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

RUPERT D. READ. 

